Heavy equipment is in action at the Monroe Street site.
The Tony Smith Demolition Company has been hired to tear down the building.
UPDATE @ 5 p.m.: The Tri-State Pallet warehouse fire does not appear to have been intentionally set, Springfield Assistant Fire Chief Brian Miller said. He noted that investigators believe the fire, which kept fire crews on scene overnight, had been burning for some time before the alarm system alerted Tuesday evening.
The cause remains under investigation, he said.
Miller spoke to the business owners Wednesday and said the investigation cannot begin until the crews are done dousing hot spots in the building.
Four workers did regular business in the warehouses from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Miller said, and no one was in the building when firefighters arrived Tuesday night.
Fire crews focused to keep flames from spreading to a building just east of the fire that was full of thousands of rubber tires.
“We are very lucky that that building didn’t also catch fire, because of the tremendous fuel load in there,” Miller said.
UPDATE @ 12:21 p.m.: Firefighters are still at the scene of the warehouse fire that destroyed a Tri-State Pallet warehouse overnight.
Firefighters are working in freezing temperatures, which not only affects their equipment, but also their bodies as they work to contain the hot spots in the fire that remain.
Crews say they will more than likely be at the scene until tonight, meaning this fire will have raged for 24 hours.
UPDATE @ 7:20 a.m. (Jan. 7): Firefighters remain on the scene at the Tri-State Pallets Co. this morning, periodically spraying water on hot spots.
Fire, smoke and a partially collapsed roof have blocked investigators from entering the complex. They hope to get inside today to begin work on determining what sparked the flames.
UPDATE @ 10:50 p.m.: The cause of the fire at Tri-State Pallets Co. is under investigation, is listed as undetermined and crews are expected to be on scene into Wednesday morning, Springfield Fire Assistant Chief Brian Miller said.
Approximately 40 personnel have been assigned to the incident and mutual aid has come from the Springfield Twp. and Moorefield Twp. fire departments, he said.
According to Miller, the company specializes in wood products manufacturing and storage.
UPDATE @ 9:02 p.m.: Springfield Assistant Fire Chief Rodney Rahrle confirms the fire is at Tri-State Pallet, an industrial complex at Monroe and Gallagher streets.
It started shortly after 6:30 p.m. and was still burning after 8:30 p.m.
Rahrle said crews were trying to keep flames from spreading to a nearby building just east of the fire that was full of tires.
UPDATE @ 7:40 p.m.: About 20 to 30 people have gathered at the scene to watch the massive blaze, including Zach Spina a German Twp. cadet firefighter.
“We were just driving down Springfield and saw flames and smoke so we came to look at it,” he said. Being a cadet firefighter I was curious so we came. It’s a pretty big fire and it’s got some potential to spread.”
Laramie Reed and Ali Miller were at the Springfield Family YMCA helping coach at swimming practice.
“Our coach just came in and said ‘Everyone get out, leave now’ and I was like, ‘What is going on?’ It was scary,” Miller said. “I have never seen a fire that big.”
UPDATE @ 7:27 p.m.: Firefighters have closed and evacuated the Springfield Family YMCA, 300 S. Limestone St., which is near the fire.
The owner of the industrial site has reportedly called dispatchers and told them an adjacent building on Linden Avenue is full of tires, according to scanner traffic.
Dispatchers are saying the fire is in the area of the 200 block of Monroe Street.
Springfield Twp. fire has been dispatched to send additional fire equipment and firefighters.
FIRST REPORT
Several Springfield Fire/Rescue Division crews are battling a five-alarm fire near downtown Springfield.
The fire is at a large industrial building at Gallagher and Monroe streets that started shortly after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A large booming sound could just be heard and the flames are towering over all nearby buildings and trees, lighting up the night sky.
The city has shut down the Spring Street overpass that’s next to the fire. The nearby railroad tracks have also been closed. Crews have also called for Ohio Edison to respond, fearing that the blaze might hit electrical lines.
Box 27, which provides relief for firefighters, has been called to assist at the scene.
We have a photographer on scene and reporters are on the way. We will update this story as we get details.
About the Author